* HIGHLIGHTS of another busy week at Hartlepool Studio include classic of rock n roll, country-rock and funk from DIAMOND DOGS tonight (£4/£3); tomorrow, hot on the heels of signing a record deal with Chocolate Fireguard Records, the venue welcomes local lads NEEB (£4/£3); there's an indie night on Tuesday; then on Thursday, Glasgow-based REQUIEM are joined by Leeds band PHLUID for a night of rock (£3/£2.50)

* KERRANG! FM and TFM DJ STEVE HARRIS will be in control of the Intergalactic decks tonight at the Arena. JASON STOREY will be turning things all the way to eleven, at the Rock Garden.

It's £3 in before 10.30pm, £5 after.

* BASK in the heavenly uplifting house sounds of ANGEL (pictured right), who steps behind the Sugarshack decks at the Empire in Middlesbrough tonight.

Angel, first introduced to house music through Graeme Park's sets at The Garage back in the early '90s, was thrown into the deep end with her DJ debut at Venus in Nottingham on News Year's Eve, 1991.

Since then she's filled dance floors at the Hacienda, Back To Basics and Newcastle's Shindig and been on the international Miss Moneypenny Tour.

Joining her tonight will be Sugarshack resident OLI FAULKNER, with PATRICK SMOOTH in control upstairs in Room Two. It's £10 in with doors at 9pm and, as usual, the night will be broadcast live on 96.6tfm from midnight until 2am.

* LIVE music makes a welcome return to the Redcar Piper on Thursday with MAVIS.

Entry prices vary. It's up to £5 depending on how many drinks you buy.

* THE Virus crew serve up DJ FINGERS, who'll be bringing his own brand of uplifting, funky techno to the main room at Spensley's Emporium tonight.

Support for Fingers, who has just been signed to Tune Inn's agency and has been putting in some serious studio time on his new single, comes from PSIONIC, DAVE SPENDLEY and HOWIE.

Doors open at 10pm and it's £5 in £4 students/concessions).

* MIDDLESBROUGH'S Purple Onion restaurant cellar bar, which recently revamped and relaunched its Friday night, has turned its attentions on Monday and Thursday.

On Mondays, Re-Birth - run by students for students - will feature a hip-hop musical menu with a dash of funky house from DJ SICKO and guests (£2 in with NUS, £2.50 without); while on Thursdays, Under The Chestnut Tree brings the RUBY ZOO DJ COLLECTIVE from Leeds to Teesside for a night of eclectic beat music featuring soul, hip-hop, funk and R&B (entry is free).

* THE Manchester-based Robodisco DJ MILES HOLLOWAY, once a resident at the legendary Hacienda who records music as Reset, will be working the decks at Middlesbrough's Aqua Bar on Sunday as part of Higher Ground.

He'll join residents SIMON GIBB, PETE WHARRIER and IAN BUCKINGHAM for the night of house and garage.